Kino Lorber Picks Up Berlinale Golden Bear Winner 'Fire At Sea'

Kino Lorber has acquired all North American distribution rights to Gianfranco Rosi’s "Fire at Sea," which won the Golden Bear at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival. Rosi previously won a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2013 for his documentary "Sacro GRA." "Fire at Sea" is a portrait of life on the small Italian island of Lampedusa, focusing on how the recent migrant crisis has come to affect the community. The film is told primarily from the perspective of 12-year-old Samuele.

The official synopsis reads: "In ‘Fire at Sea,’ Samuele is 12 and lives on an island in the Mediterranean, far away from the mainland. Like all boys of his age he does not always enjoy going to school. He would much rather climb the rocks by the shore, play with his slingshot or mooch about the port. But his home is not like other islands. For years, it has been the destination of men, women and children trying to make the crossing from Africa in boats that are far too small and decrepit. The island is Lampedusa which has become a metaphor for the flight of refugees to Europe, the hopes, hardship and fate of hundreds of thousands of emigrants. These people long for peace, freedom and happiness and yet so often only their dead bodies are pulled out of the water. Thus, every day the inhabitants of Lampedusa are bearing witness to the greatest humanitarian tragedy of our times."

"Gianfranco Rosi captured the hearts and minds of the Berlinale this year with what will become one of the essential films of our times," said Kino Lorber CEO Richard Lorber in an official statement. "We could not be more thrilled to bring this film to North American audiences later this year."

The deal for the film was negotiated by Richard Lorber, CEO of Kino Lorber and Daniela Elstner of Doc & Film International. Although no dates have been set, Kino Lorber is hoping for a fall release.